US PRESIDENT Joe Biden issued an emergency declaration for Mississippi today, after a devastating tornado ripped through the region killing at least 26 people.

The declaration makes federal funding available to the four hardest-hit counties in the state, which took the brunt of the whirlwind’s force. At least one person was killed in neighbouring Alabama when his trailer home was flipped over.

Search and recovery crews on Sunday resumed the daunting task of digging through the debris of flattened and battered homes, commercial buildings and municipal offices after hundreds of people were displaced.

The tornado, assessed as having an EF-4 rating meaning winds of 166-200 miles per hour, flattened entire blocks and destroyed houses, even ripping the spire off a church. Witness Rodney Porter said: “Houses are gone, houses stacked on top of houses with vehicles on top of that.”

The tornado was on the ground for a course of over 170 miles and damage is being assessed.